# Big Noses, bloated ears, ect. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847 "2005-02-07T18:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/1 "2005-02-07T18:37:53Z")
Why do many older people have big, bloated noses, ears and just a general bloated look to their face? I know alcoholism causes some of that, but this phenomenon that I have observed is not limited to those people. I have heard that the cranium never stops growing in certain areas, could this be true for more than just the skull? My brother was joking about how there is a bunch of toxins built up in there from all their years of not working out and sweating. Is there any truth to that? ---
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/2 "2005-04-12T20:17:47Z")
bump ---
**Author:** ![Aragowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@Aragowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aragowyn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/3 "2005-04-12T20:24:01Z")
Well noses and ears are made of connective tissue, not bone, so it wouldn’t be related to any cranium growth. I don’t really observe bloated noses and ears among the elderly. Maybe if you’re talking about the prevalence of big noses and ears that stick out being more prevalent among the older generation, then I would guess one possible reason is the the lower incidence of plastic surgery among the older generation vs. the younger generation. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/4 "2005-04-12T20:29:45Z")
I’ve been told that your ears and your nose are parts of your body that never stop growing. But according to [this site](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/Mar2003/1048719208.Dv.r.html) that may just be another old wives tale. Still the site’s an interesting read. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/5 "2005-04-12T20:31:51Z")
Actually, if I remember correctly from forensic anthropology, this type of connective tissue keeps growing as you age, which is why older people seems to have larger noses and ears. Their noses and ears _are_ actually larger. Considering that your stature decreases as you age, I can imagine a really old person that’s 2 feet tall and looks a bit like Dumbo. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/6 "2005-04-12T20:33:36Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > Considering that your stature decreases as you age, I can imagine a really old person that’s 2 feet tall and looks a bit like Dumbo. Someone other than Ross Perot? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-noses-bloated-ears-ect/288847/7 "2005-04-12T20:34:41Z")
Ah, **velvetjones** beat me, and with a cite to boot, which is a lot better than my “I remember reading somewhere . . .”